There is nothing worse than waiting in a long security line at the airport to begin your trip. TSA PreCheck and Clear are two options that can help you spend less time in line, however, your experience still somewhat depends on the other passengers.
It's possible that the people in front of you are going slowly because they forgot to take their keys out of their pockets or because they are new to TSA PreCheck and weren't aware that they may keep their shoes on. Sincerity dictates that passengers should take a test before being allowed to pass through American airports.
However, passengers attempting to board an aircraft with goods that the Transportation Screening Administration forbids are a persistent cause of airport screening queues getting longer. In addition to flagging illegal items during security checks, staff also contacts the police and searches your belongings. Travelers may even be detained and fined, which would slow down everything.
Guns
According to TSA Northeast spokesperson Lisa Farbstein, who routinely tweets about TSA-confiscated guns at airports, this seems obvious, yet many individuals appear to forget it.
Unloaded guns are allowed on airplanes, despite the fact that most of the unlawful items discovered by the TSA on Twitter involve illegal firearms.
"James Bond's arch enemy, Francisco Scaramanga, knew that replica guns, even golden guns, are not allowed through a TSA security checkpoint," tweeted Farbstein on April 18. However, a fan of 007 departing from JFK airport this week wasn't aware and was shocked when his carry-on bag was checked and the gun was taken out.
According to TSA data, TSA agents stopped 1,508 firearms at airport security checkpoints during the first quarter of 2023, or 16.8 firearms on average every day. Of those, more than 93% were loaded.
"TSA suspends TSA PreCheck eligibility for current TSA PreCheck members for five years if they bring firearms to the TSA screening checkpoint. To make sure that there are no further risks, TSA may also undertake additional screening for those passengers, according to a press release issued by the agency on April 20. The TSA raised the maximum civil fine for a guns violation to $14,950 in late last year. At that airport, passengers who have firearms discovered in carry-on bags are also in violation of any local or state laws that may result in a penalty or an arrest.
Reminder: Firearms must be declared to the airline at check-in, unloaded, and checked in a secured, hard-sided container. Similar to replica weapons, carry-on luggage cannot include ammunition (including single bullets and crates full of ammo), gun magazines (empty or loaded with bullets), pepper spray, tasers, shock guns, sparklers, pyrotechnics, or anything else marked as flammable.
If they are correctly packed, you may bring these goods in your checked luggage. Ammunition must be packaged safely in fiber, wood, or metal boxes, or in another container created especially to transport small quantities of ammunition.
Although they are "generally permitted," toy weapons are advised to be packed in checked luggage by the TSA. Nerf guns and other replicas of actual firearms are forbidden.
Full-size hygiene items
"Probably the most common prohibited items that travelers have in their carry-on bags that are prohibited through a TSA security checkpoint are liquids, gels, aerosols, and spreadable larger than 3.4 ounces," Farbstein added, referring to the 3-1-1 liquid rule. In general, if an item is more than 3.4 ounces and can be spilled, sprayed, spread, pumped, or poured, it should not be transported in a carry-on bag.
As long as they weigh no more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and can all fit in a single 1-quart, resealable bag, you are permitted to bring liquids, gels, and aerosols in travel-size containers onto a plane.
Food goods that are liquid or spreadable, such as apple sauce, jams, jellies, preserves, canned vegetables with liquid inside the cans, Nutella, and peanut butter, are similar things but not toiletries, according to Farbstein. The 3-1-1 liquid rule must be followed for these as well.
So your miniature bottles of lotion and toothpaste are fine. A full-size bottle of mouthwash is not allowed, though. The same goes for leaving a big bottle of shampoo at home.
Drinks including water bottles, energy drinks, juice, soda, and alcohol are common examples, according to Farbstein. "But beyond beverages, yet still in the same category, would be toiletries, such as hair gel, aftershave, cologne, perfume, shampoo, conditioner, Vaseline, toothpaste, and sunblock."
Be aware that the TSA will not inspect carry-on bags containing medically required liquids, drugs, or creams that are larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) in size.
Alcohol
Many passengers are unaware that you can, with a few restrictions, carry your booze on a flight. According to the TSA, drinks that are more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol can be transported on board in checked luggage as long as there are no more than 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per traveler and they are still sealed in their retail packaging. Alcohol in miniature bottles is permitted in carry-on luggage as long as they can easily fit in a single quart-size suitcase.
However, it is against the law for passengers to drink their alcohol while flying; instead, the alcohol must be served by a flight attendant.
For bringing their alcohol on board, becoming wasted, and disobeying flight attendant instructions, a small number of passengers were penalized more than $1 million by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2021.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is not permitted in carry-on or checked luggage since it may be combustible, so if you have a green thumb, I'm sorry to disappoint you. As long as your plant can fit in the overhead compartment or the space beneath your seat, you are permitted to bring plants (and planting seeds).
Miscellaneous items
Tools greater than 7 inches would be another category of items that are not permitted on board. This is because these objects could be regarded as blunt objects. Examples include drills, saws, pliers, screwdrivers, hammers, and wrenches.
Different kinds of knives and blades, including butter knives, hunting knives, credit-card knives, keychain knives, Swiss Army knives, tactical fighting knives, and cake knives, are also forbidden.
In conclusion
Download the MyTSA app and check the item's suitability using the "What can I bring?" option if you're confused about whether it can be packed in a carry-on bag or a checked bag.
Additionally, travelers can text "Travel" to AskTSA (275-872) to submit a query.
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